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In the March 30, 2017 edition of Newsline, presenter Sandra Hanutsaha tells us about:

• Thailand government spokesperson, Lieutenant General Sansern Kaewkamnerd, has reported that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has commended the Thai National Soccer Team (TNST) and its officials for its efforts so far in representing the country. Although it did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup the Prime Minister urged them to continue heir dedication towards improving their skills and reminded them that their efforts brought great happiness to the people and unity to the nation.

• The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) was scheduled to debate the amended Petroleum Act in an attempt to resolve several contentious points in the proposed amendments, including the proposed establishment of a national oil board to manage the country’s oil and gas assets. NLA President Pornpech Wichitcholchai said the NLA was looking at suggestions from a range of stakeholders, in addition to impact studies.

• Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr has led a group of government officials to inspect progress on work to upgrade the Pattani Port into a seafood trade area. The group visited fishing industries in and around the port to ascertain the needs of stakeholders with a view to further expansion work. Pattani port process over 99,000 tons of marine product per year valued at over Bt5.9 billion (about US$171 million).

• Department of Land Transport (DLT) director-general, Sanit Phromwong, has responded to a petition submitted to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha by the Association of Inter-provincial Van Operators (AIVO) asking him to investigate the impact from the government’s reorganization of public van services aimed at improving safety for the travelling public. According to Mr Phromwong the DLT has listened to the views of the public and has compensated van operators with debt extension programs and debt restructuring. So far 76 per cent of vehicles have complied with the new requirement to fit GPS tracking devices to their vehicles before the end of March.

• The Ministery of Agriculture and Cooperatives plans to host an exhibition at Royal Paragon Hall of Siam Paragon from April 6th to 9th to promote safe agriculture and educate the public on the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) standard. The ministry has nominated 2017 as the year to elevate Thai agricultural standards to sustainable practices. There is currently 247,000 farmers who have received GAP accreditation.

• Thailand today hosted the third annual Thailand-China Strategic Dialogue in Phuket, aimed at strengthening trade ties between the two countries. Busadee Santipitak, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said the meeting was to be led by Busaya Mathelin, Thailand’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, while the Chinese delegation was to be led by vice minister Liu Zhenmin, vice-chairman of China’s Financial and Economic Affairs Committee. The meeting is a prelude to further discussions aimed at strengthening Thai-China trade, with a meeting scheduled for May to be led by the deputy minister of foreign affairs for each country.

•  The Bank of Thailand’s (BoTs) monetary policy committee has maintained the policy interest rate at 1.5 per cent citing indicators that the Thai economy was continuing to expand, particularly in the export, and tourist sectors, while public spending remained strong. The Committee forecast Thailand 2017 GDP to grow at 3.4 per cent, higher than the previously forecast 3.2 per cent, cautioning the result may be effected by the US government’s changes in trade policies, China’s financial stability and political and economic problems in the EU. The Committee forecast Thailand 2018 GDP growth at 3.6 per cent.

• NBT takes an in depth look at Rubberland, a new ‘edutourism’ venue opened in Pattaya. Billed as the only venue in Asia combining rubber education and entertainment in on venue, Rubberland provides educational and historical information on the rubber industry in Thailand through four different zones.

• Deputy prime minister and Minister for Defence, General Prawit Wongsuwan has commenced co-chairing a two-day meeting between Thailand and Cambodia security officials. Co-chaired by Cambodia deputy prime minister and Minister for National Defence, General Tea Banh, the event marks the 12th annual meeting to strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ militaries.

• and more.

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Newsline is a daily Thailand English-language news and current affairs programme produced by the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNBT) under the Thailand Government Public Relations Department (PRD) for *NBT World, the NNBTs 24/7 English language television service delivering Thailand government news and information to the Thai, Asean, and wider Asian communities via cable and satellite. It is also available via android and iOS apps.

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